Changing the password of your Linksys router, or any router for that matter, is important to ensure network security. Since Linksys routers are so popular, the probability of one of your neighbors owning one is high. Most of them are set up so similarly that they're easy to break into -- if  you don't make any changes. This tutorial will explain what you need to change, and why and how to do it.

Linksys routers come with default usernames and password, which enables others around you to access them rather easily if they are not properly secured. If accessed, the router's settings can be changed, which will cause you a headache when it comes to using the Internet. To avoid such a problem, you should change the default password on your router to something customized and private. This tutorial will teach you how to do so on a typical Linksys router, but the process is similar for many routers on the market.

To begin, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the router via one of its Ethernet ports.  Next, go to the web browser of your choice and type in the following address: http://192.168.1.1/.  Hit enter.

You should see something appear that will prompt you to enter a username and password in order to access the administrative settings of the router. Depending on the model of your Linksys router, the login credentials might be different. If it is a newer model, enter admin as both the username and password.  If it is an older Linksys model, leave the username blank, and type admin as the password. 

Once you have successfully logged in to the router, you can proceed to change the router password through the Linksys user interface. Click on the Administration tab. Next, click on the Management heading. Think of a new, solid router password. For extra security, the password should be around ten characters long. You should also combine upper and lower case letters with numbers to make it harder for others to guess.   

Enter the new password into the Router Password field. You will not see the password's actual characters, so type it in carefully. This is a security measure that has been added to ensure that your password remains private and unseen by others as it is typed in. Enter it once again into the Re-enter to confirm field. Click Save Settings. If you forget to do this, the actual changes will not take place.  Remember to write the password down in case you forget it, as you will have to enter it the next time you want to access your router.

How to reset the router if you forgot your password

What if you already changed your default password to a custom one in the past, but forgot it and cannot log in? If this describes your case, then you will need to reset the router to the factory default settings.

To reset the router to its default settings, simply press and hold the reset button on the back of the router for approximately 30 seconds. The reset button is small, so you will have to use something with a fine point to press it. A pen should work fine. Once the router is reset, you can log back into it using the default admin login credentials and create a new password to secure it. Just repeat the process listed earlier in this tutorial to do so via the Administration tab.

DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware.

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